The OPCW Scientific Advisory Board, SAB BWC Expert Meeting, Geneva, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY The OPCW Scientific Advisory Board, SAB BWC Expert Meeting, Geneva, 14 August 2013 Stefan Mogl, SPIEZ LABORATORY, Switzerland

The OPCW – main organs Scientific Advisory Board, SAB Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 2 2

Outline • What is the OPCW SAB ? − Mandate − History • How does the SAB function ? • How does the SAB communicate ? • Lessons learned after 15 years ? Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 3

What is the OPCW SAB ? [Ref: CWC, Art. VIII, para 21 (h)] • DG to establish an SAB to enable him to render specialized advice in S+T relevant to CWC, to Conference, Executive Council, States Parties • SAB shall be composed of independent experts appointed in acc. with TOR Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 4

What is the OPCW SAB ? [Ref: CWC, Art. VIII, para 45] OPCW DG responsible for organization and functioning of SAB: • DG appoints SAB members • SAB members serve in individual capacity • DG may establish temporary working groups (TWG) Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 5

What is the OPCW SAB ? Composition • 25 Members elected for a term of 3 years (may serve two consecutive terms) • Experts from Academia, Industry, Government, Defence − Bring personal expertise, network and their institution • Important to maintain broad spectrum of expertise Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 6

What is the OPCW SAB ? Functions [C-II/DEC.10/Rev.1] • Assess and report to DG developments in S+T relevant to CWC • Provide advice on changes to Annex on Chemicals • Co-ordinate SAB TWGs • Provide to Technical Secretariat (TS) S+T advice related to co- operation and assistance • Assess merit of methodology for use by TS for verification • Provide advice and make recommendations on relevant developments in S+T for Review Conference • Assess and report on emerging technologies and new equipment Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 7

What is the OPCW SAB ? History • SAB TOR unresolved by PrepCom, forwarded to CSP1 (1997) • Adopted by CSP2 (1997) after consultations − DG to nominate Members • 1 st SAB Mtg. Sept. 1998, report in CSP3 Oct. 1998 • 2 nd SAB Mtg. April 1999 • 20 SAB Mtgs. since, 1-2 annually Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 8

Outline • What is the OPCW SAB ? • How does the SAB function ? [EC-XIII/DG.2] − Independence − Rules of Procedure − Temporary Working Groups (TWGs) • How does the SAB communicate ? • Lessons learned after 15 years ? Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 9

How does the SAB function ? Independence • SAB appoints a chair and vice chair by consensus annually from its members • Technical Secretariat provides the Secretary to the SAB − Agenda developed by Chair and Secretary − DG may add any item to be discussed • No observers to meetings of SAB (without prior written DG approval) Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 10

How does the SAB function ? Rules of Procedure • All meetings at OPCW HQ − 6 official languages • Briefings by: − Director-General − SAB Secretary − TWG Chairs − Expert presenters • SAB deliberations, recommen- dations, intersessional work • Durations 3-5 Days Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 11

How does the SAB function ? Temporary Working Groups (TWGs) • Chaired by SAB member • Composed of subject matter experts and SAB members • TOR designed to answer specific question(s) − Limited to 2-3 years (generally) • TWGs report to SAB • Examples of TWGs: − Sampling and Analysis (closed) − Convergence in Chemistry and Biology − Education and Outreach − Verification Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 12

Outline • What is the OPCW SAB ? • How does the SAB function ? • How does the SAB communicate ? • Lessons learned after 15 years ? Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 13

How does the SAB communicate ? Regular Meeting Reports (www.opcw.org) Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 14

How does the SAB communicate ? Interaction with Delegates / TS Staff Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 15

How does the SAB communicate ? Evaluation of Developments in S+T for Review Conference Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 16

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Outline • What is the OPCW SAB ? • How does the SAB function ? • How does the SAB communicate ? • Lessons learned after 15 years ? Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 18

Lessons learned after 15 years ? How to ask • SAB can provide S+T advice effectively, if: − Question is phrased clearly and related to S+T − Intention is not to ‘escape’ discussion in PMO − SPs don’t attempt to politicize the Board − Has sufficient funding for meetings (SAB, TWGs) − SAB analyses question carefully (including policy dimension) − SAB considers relevant information from all accessible sources in its deliberations − SAB stays away from policy debate Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 19

Lessons learned after 15 years ? Benefits • SAB helps to establish ‘official OPCW view’ on S+T matters related to implementation of CWC − Good Track Record: o In spite of changing composition, no SAB recommendation needed correction o Not all SAB recommendations are implemented – PMO may not be ready to reach consensus Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 20

Lessons learned after 15 years ? Example from SAB Question to the SAB: • Can Schedule 1 chemicals be formed as impurities in industrial production processes, and if yes, do they pose a threat to the object and purpose of the CWC ? − Study performed by members of the SAB in their institution − Extensive debate by the SAB Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 21

Lessons learned after 15 years ? Example from SAB SAB Response: Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 22

Lessons learned after 15 years ? Example from TWG Question to the SAB: • Protein toxin ricin and marine toxin saxitoxin are included in Schedule 1 of CWC • OPCW has obligation to develop methods of verification − Analysis present problems for the current system of OPCW designated laboratories and proficiency testing − Ricin and saxitoxin cannot be identified using OPCW onsite analysis equipment Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 23

Lessons learned after 15 years ? Example from TWG SAB Response: • The TWG on S&A reviewed the various methods that can be used to detect and identify saxitoxin and ricin, and made recommendations on those methods considered most appropriate. • [It was recommended that, for both toxins, a screening technique, based on immunoassay, combined with a confirmative technique based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS- MS), be used.] Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP SPIEZ LABORATORY 24

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